The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-06-15
INTERVIEWED GRAPE JUICE.
Ii is Recommended for Use as Wine for
Communion.

New York Sun
Total abstinence agitation has suddenly
taken a new direction. The action of
several church bodies in commencing the
use of unfermented grape juice, instead of
alcoholic wine, IN the communion service
is the first outcome of determined effort
to abolish intoxicants from the Lords Sup
per. The Methodist Book Concern is now
supplying grape juice at cost to all the
churches of that denomination who order
it, and the National Temperance Society
has a brand of its own on sale. Besides,
several of the American wine COM
panies have gone into this speciality for
profit, and pastors throughout the land are
getting circulars. The use OF unfermented
swine" for sacramental purposes among
the Protestant churches of this city and
vicinity as well as in other large commu-
mites, has rapidly extended during the
past years. The custom is growing despite
the opposition Of many leading clergymen
on doctrinal and other grounds. Secretary
j. n. Stevens says that the National Tenn
perance Society has disposed of about 500
quarts lately. The sample produced re-
sembles light port wine in color, but is
slightly clouded, and discloses considera-
BILE sediment when held up to the light. 1t
is estimated that about 100 churches in
New York and Brooklyn use the infer
mented article in the communion service.
The Methodist churches hereabouts have
almost entirely discarded the use of fer
mented wine for the sacrament.
DR.. Wright, a philanthropic dentist OF
London, has spent many years and thou
sands Of dollars experimenting in the manu-
facture of an article which should possess
sll the qualities for termented wine except
The alcoholic property. He believes he has
succeeded in producing beverage that for
p1a nd oIr1a fc mi 10
equal to the best fermented light wines.
This wine is used at the annual BANQUET OF
the British Temperance Association. An
effort was made by the National Temper
aRce Society to procure the importation of
DR.. Wright's fluid at the rate Of duty on
fruit juice 60 per cent }, but the Treasury
Department refused, and adhered to the so
per cent. duty which is exacted in the
case OF fermented wines. The article man.
ufsctured for the Methodist Book Concern
in New Jersey and elsewhere has been rec
commended by competent authorities as q
Notwithstanding, wholesome beverage. S.
Dana Hayes State Assayer of Massachu-
sets, gives it his unqualified Endorsement,
as q beverage free from all deleterioHs sub.
stances, among temperance people and re-
Dgious bodies that eschew the use of the
'mocker" But the largest single manu-
facturer of unfermented wine" in this
motives, and his agents in this city have
sold about 5000 quarts during the past
year, and, owing 20 the new boom, recently
gave hasty order for 10000 quarts. The
Methodist Book Concern, however, still
sells more than any other establishment.
Experienced manufactures declare that
nothing can be easier than tie production
and preservation of unfermented wine
The process is speedy as well as simple. The
pure juice of the grape, fresh from the
press, is possible as exposure to the air,
even for few hours, often induces slight
fermentation, and is boiled down to about
one-balf its normal volume. 1t is then
poured while warm into ordinary glass
bottles and Theoretically sealed. Grape
juice put up in this way will keep infer
mented for several years The usual price
is IS per dozen pints, or 50 per dozen
quarts.
Now that the legislative season is over,
the total abstinence advocates will make a
summer specially of unfermented grape
juice for communion, and many camp
meetings in its interest are projected.